There are some links floating around the blogosphere where Andy Stanley got involved with commenting on some blogs that were critical of North Point. Overall, some very interesting discussion, and Andy was very interested in what people had to say.

There was something he said, though, that I have to share with you. It connects with some of what Andy talked about at the last session of Catalyst back in October. In my blog post, Accepting Change, I summarized something he had said:

Stanley mentioned that significant improvement often costs money, but that we're usually already stretched too thin financially when we're at the point of needing to do something to generate momentum. He warned us to not spend money on mediocre ministries – we should focus on the core of the organization, and concentrate on the vision. If we would focus on the vision, and abandon areas that are not essential to that vision, momentum will take hold and as the organization grows, the resources will be there to replenish what used to be mediocre with a better quality program. Funding a large number of mediocre ministries gets us nowhere – funding a small number of high-quality ministries will gain sustained momentum.

Nearly a month before Catalyst, Andy Stanley was commenting on Adam Cleaveland's blog, where Adam related his experience of visiting North Point. A lot of discussion went on, but at one point Andy had this to say:

Small churches should always play to their strengths. Small churches should only do what they can do well. What you can't do well, don't do at all. Sounds extreme, but remember, mediocre never triggers momentum. Ever. Mediocre just uses up resources.

New churches that try to have something for everyone usually end up with nothing great for anyone.

I think too many times we try to act like we're the "big church" because we feel like we have to compete. What we need to do, instead, is play to our strengths, execute our vision, and unapologetically allow people to move on if what we're doing isn't connecting with them. We can't be everything to everyone. If we try, we end up being mediocre, and "mediocre just uses up resources."

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